Glove testing device



Sept. l5, 1936. w. v. MGDONALD GLOVE TESTING DEVICE Filed Jan. l5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1936. w, v. MCDONALD GLOVE TEsTNG DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l5, 1936 Patented Slept. 1936' I2,054,204... v GLOVE TESTING'DEVIC Willis V. McDonald, Abilene, Tex. Application January 15, 1936, Serial No. 59,300

10 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a glove testing apparatus designed primarily for the testing of rubber gloves, employed by surgeons, but it is to be understood that the testing apparatus, in accordance with this invention may be used in any connection for which it is found applicable.

The importance of gloves in a surgical operation being free of holes or even needle prick points cannot, as all surgeons know, be over emphasized, and it is the object of this invention to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus to act upon a glove before it is worn by a surgeon to determine whether or not the glove is impaired by being formed with an aperture or apertures in the stalls for the ngers and thumb as well as in the back and palm portions thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a glove testing apparatus which permits of enough air,

to be pumped into the glove to force even the smallest of apertures, that a 'glove may be formed with to leak air and at the same time not allow the glove to bulge and stretch the rubber beyond its elastic limit, thus permitting a safe and sure test without stretching the life out of the rubber.

Further objects of the invention areto pro- 'vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an

glove supporting and bulge preventing element,

apparatus for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, conveniently and` expeditiously arranged and operated when testing, thoroughly eiiicient in its use, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and areas illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of I the apparatus and a glove disposed thereon to be tested,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the combined Figure 3 is a fragmentary view' of the paratus in longitudinal section,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the glove holder forming an element of the apparatus,

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5 Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a section online 6 6 Figure 3.

`The apparatus includes an open top tank I for containing a body of water 2 into which the glove A3 is to be submerged during the testing operation therefor. One end of tank I at its bottom is formed with a lateral extension 4 approximately centrally thereof. Integral with the top of extension 4 is a vertically disposed socket forming member 5 having the socket 6 provided thereby open at its upper end. Positioned wit-hin socket 6 is the lower end of a standard 1. The latter is of greater height than and projects above the open top of tank I. The standard 'I near its upper end is formed with a pocket 8 in its periphery and at a point above and in proximity to the top of tank I is also formed with a peripheral socket 9. 4

Slidably mounted on the standard 'I is a vertically adjustable carrier III of substantially inverted U-shape contour. 'Ihe carrier III consists of an upper horizontally disposed leg II formed at its outer end with a vertical passage I2 and a horizontally disposed port I3 opening at its inner end into the upper end ofI passage I2. Formed integral with and depending from the inner end of leg Il is the upper end of a vertically disposed arm I4 provided near its lower end with a diametrically extending circular opening VIii having its wall threaded. The arm I4 axially thereof is formed with a channel I8 registering at its upper end with the passage l I2 and at its lower end communicating with opening I5. 'I'he rear end of leg II is formed with a vertical opening I1 and registering with the latter is the inner face' of a vertically disposed sleeve I8 which is integral with and depends from the leg II. The arm I4 is of greater length than the sleeve I8. The latteris slidably mounted on thestandardl. Pivotally mounted on one side of leg II is a spring controlled latching member I9 formed with a nose 20 for selective engagement with the pockets 8, 9 to releasably secure the carrier III to and at right angles to standard 'I or in other words to releasably maintain the carrier I0 in its upper or in its lower position relative to standard 1. When the nose of member I9 is -clear ofthe pockets 8, 9 the carrier may be shifted lengthwise` of or revolved about standard 1.

'I'he apparatus includes a combined supporting, shaft and airconducting element 2|! consisting of a tubular member 2l closed at its rear end,

as at 2|a and opening at its forward end as at 22. 'Ihe member 2| in proximity to its rear end is' provided with a port 23. The rear terminal portion of member 2| is mounted in opening i5 and is formed with peripheral threads-engaging withthe threads of the wall of opening i5. The member 2| between its transverse median and rear end is formed with an integral peripheral collar 24 Ahaving its edge rabbeted to form a shoulder 25.

The apparatus includes a spring controlled glove holding element 28 consisting of a peripherally ribbed tubular handle 21 open at its rear end and having its forward end closed by a disc 28 of greater outer diameter than that of handle 21. The disc 28 is slidably mounted on member 2| and is formed axially thereof with an opening 29 for the passage of the said member. The disc 28 is also formed adjacent the opening 29 with a socket 38 which opens at the forward face of the disc. Secured to the forward face of the disc 28 is a resilient annulus 3| of a diameter to extend in close proximity to the opening 34 which at its rear end communicates v.with the'socket 33.

The element 28 extends through the socket 33 and opening 34 and projects forwardly from disc 32. The forwardlypro- Jecting portion of element 28 has xed thereto a stop collar 35 which bears against the forward face of disc 32. Arranged within the socket 33 is a packing 38 and engaging with the threaded portion of the wall of socket 33 is a packing gland 31. Secured to the rear face of disc 32 is a locking pin 38 which is adapted to removably engage in the socket 38 for connecting discs 28 and 32 together. The pin 38 also functions as a spacing means between the discs 28 and 32 when the pin is removed from socket 38 and disc 32 turned sumciently to provide for pin 38 to abut the forward face of disc 28 as is shown in Figure 4. When the glove 3 is to be mounted on the holder 28 the disc 28 is shifted rearwardly against the action of a controlling spring, to be referred to and manually held, and then a portion of the rear end of the glove is seated on the edge of disc 32, after which another portion of said rear end is bent inwardly to abut the rear face of disc 32. After the rear end of the glove has been positioned as aforesaid, the controlling spring is released which shifts the disc 28 forwardly tojprovide for the annulus 3| to bind against the inturned portion 39 of the glove. Prior to the binding of the portion 38 of the glove, the discs 28, 32 are so positioned relatively to each other, that when the controlling spring shifts disc 28 forwardly the pin 38 will engage in the socket 38 whereby the discs 28 and 32 will be locked together and the rear portion of the glove clamped tothe holder 28. When the glove is clamped, the holder and glove will appear posed leg 43 and a horizontally disposed leg 44 which is integral with and extends forwardly from the lower end of the leg 43. The upper end of leg 43 is provided with an annular enlargement 45 for the purpose of mounting element 42 on element 28 between collar 24 and arm |4. 'I'he element 42 is revolubly mounted on element 28. Formed integral with the forward face of enlargement 45 is a forwardly directed tubular extension 48 which surrounds the collar 24 and extends into the handle 21. The latter is slidably mounted on the extension 48. The leg 44 is tubular and has f slidably mounted therein a forwardly extending in its adjusted position by a set screw 5| carried by the block. The latter also carries a set screw 52 for a purpose to be referred to.

'I'he controlling spring for the element 28 is indicated at 53 and it is interposed between the rear face of disc 28 and the shoulder 24. The ends of the spring 52 encompass the boss 48 and the reduced portion 4| of the collar 24. The spring 52 permanently tends to force the disc 28 towards the disc 32.

The apparatusincludes a vertically and horil zontally adjustable combined glove supper/ting and bulge preventing element'53 formed of ai pair of half-round complementary sections 54, 55. The element 53 has an open rear end for encompassing the discs 28 and 32 during the testing operation. The section 54 consists of a half -rcund wire frame having a forward end portion 58, side portions 51, 58 and a rear end portion 59. 'I'he side portion 51 has a stretch thereof, intermediate its ends bent to form a pair of oppositely extending open loop-like forming parts 88, 8|. 'I'he side portion 58 has the intermediate portion thereof curved as at 82. Secured to the frame of section 54 is a. reticulated panel y83. The rear portion of the section 54 is provided with a fabric strip 54 disposed transversely thereof and connected to the side portions 51, 58 and end portio /59 of the frame. The section 54 carries a latc g member 85. The section 55 includes a half-round frame of concave contour` formed of a forward end portion 88, side portions 81, 58 and a rear end portion 89. The forward end portion 88 is bentv to provide open upper end loops 55a, 18, 1| and 12. The side portion 81 intermediate its ends is curved as at 13 and with the curvature oppositely disposed with respect to the curved parti 52 of side portion58 of the frame of section 54. The side portion 88 of the frame of the section 55 is formed intermediate its ends with an open top loop 14. Secured to the frame of the section 55 is a reticu-A lated panel 15. The rear portion of section 55 is provided with a transversely extending. fabric strip 15a secured to the side portions 51, 58 and end portion 58 of the frame of the section 55. The side portion 58 is provided with keeper 18 which coacts with the member 55 for latching the sections 54, 55 together and with the section 54 in superimposed relation with respect to section 55.

The loops 89a, 18, 1| and 12 provide for the passage of the finger stalls 11 of the glove 3 when the latter is mounted inthe element 53. The loops 5| and 14 coact to provide an opening for the passage of the thumb stall 18 of the'glove when the latter is mounted in the element 53.

Formed integral with, depending from and extending rearwardly from the end portion 55 of the section 55 is a coupling member 19. Formed integral with the side portions 51, 58 of the frame of the section 55 is a depending yoke 80 into the bottom of which merges the rear end of the coupling member 19. The bottom of yoke 89 is formed integral with an upper end of a vertical rod 8| which passes through the opening 50 in the block 49. The rod 8| is vertically adjustable relative to the block 49 and is also bodily carried by said block. The rod 8| is detachably secured to block 49 for the purpose of maintaining rod Il in its adjusted position and also to provide for rod 8| being carried bodily with the block 49 by the set screw 52. The adjustment of the rod 8| provides for vertically adjusting the element 53 when desired and owing to the adjustment of the block 49 the element 53 may be adjusted hori-v zontally with respect to the element 25 to cornpensate for different lengths of gloves. The fabric strips 64 and 15a surround and protect the rear portion of the glove. The panels 53 and 15 prevent the bulging of a glove when it is being tested as well as act to prevent the glove stretching beyond its elastic limit. The element 53 acts to support the glove in extended position relative to the element 26. II'he sections 54, 55 of element 53 are hinged together as at 8|a:.

Secured to the leg and opening into the port I3 is a combined intake and outlet nipple 52 which communicates with a controlling valve 83. Opening into the valve 83 is an air supply pipe 84 leading from a pump 85 which is in the form of a compressible and extendible bulb 88 provided with an air intake 81. The valve structure 83 has a relief port 88.

The test is made by inating the glove when it is arranged in the element 53 by means of the pump 85, and after the inflation of the glove the latter and element 59 is lowered on standard 'I to an extent to provide for saidelement to be submerged in the body of water 2, and if bubbles of air appear in the waterv they will indicate that the material of the glove is formed with an open-l ing or openings.

During the testing operation, as the elements 25 and 42 are revolubly mounted on element 25, they in connection with element 53 may be bodily revolved together or turned over and over again while the glove is submerged in the water. This enables the operator of the apparatus to locate the exact point of a hole that may be in the glove. Knowing the exact location oi' the hole facilitiesV the repairing of the glove.

'I'he drawings show the apparatus in position for testing a right-hand glove. When a left-hand glove is to be tested it is turned inside out and then positioned on the assembly.

What I claim is:

1. In a glove testing apparatus. a glove holder for extension into the wrist end of a glove and having means for clamping said end thereto, a vertically adjustable supporting structure forsaid holder, said structure being formed with means for supplying air to the glove on the holder to inflate the glove, a suspension structure bodily carried with said supporting structure, a horizontally adjustable combined glove supporting and bulge preventing element for encompassing and maintaining the gldve attached to the holder horizontally and adapted to be submerged in a body of water to provide for-the testing of th glove, said element and suspension structure having coacting means for connecting them together, and said holder being slidably mounted on said supporting structure for extension into one end of said element.

2. 'I'he invention as set forth in claim 1 having said element formed of a pair of hinged latchable oppositely disposed concave-convex foraminous sections.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having said element formed of a pair of hinged latchable oppositely disposed concave-convex foraminous sections, one provided with means for sup-- porting the finger and thumb stalls of the glove in extended relation thereto.

4. The invention as set forth in claim l having the coacting means of and for connecting said element and suspension structure together including parts disposed at right angles to provide for vertically and horizontally adjusting of said element relative to said suspension structure and horizontally relative to the holder.

5. The invention as set forth in claim l having said holder formed with a pair of clamping members for the wrist end of the glove and with one of said members spring controlled.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having said holder formed with a pair of opposed clamping members for the glove and with one of said members formed with a resilient annulus on one face thereof to engage the wrist end of the glove.

7. The invention as set forth in claim i having said air supply means formed with an air conductor extending through said holder for opening into the glove, and a valve for controlling the passage of air through said conductor.

8. The invention as set forth in claim fi havin! combined therewith a standard extending through said supporting structure, said structure being vertically slidable and revoluble relative to the standard, and' said supporting structure and standard having coacting means for selectively latching the supporting structure at selected points on the standard.

9. 'I'he invention as set forth in claim l having combined therewith a tank adapted to contain a body of water in which the said glove supporting and bulge preventing element is adapted to be submerged, a standard supported from one end of the tank and extending upwardly through said supporting structure, the latter and said standard wruss v. ucnomm. 

